Many people face very lengthy court proceedings, and it is therefore hardly unusual that on occasion a person may not be well enough to attend court. This article looks at what you should do if you are too ill to attend.

Usually the court will consider questions which explore things like, whether the alleged offence is serious enough to justify a retrial, or whether, if re-convicted, the appellant would be likely to serve a significant period or further period in custody. Factors such as the appellant’s age and health may also come into play.

Last week it was proposed by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson that a 10-year time limit ( a Statute of Limitations) should apply to the prosecution of soldiers accused of murder during time spent in military engagement. He suggested this following reports that British soldiers may face prosecution over deaths that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s during the troubles in Northern Ireland.

Can Modern Slavery be used as a defence for drugs offences or other offences for that matter? Well the answer is maybe – depending on the circumstances and the offence committed. Here we look at using modern slavery as a defence.